TGM CONTEXT FLASHCARDS
Who was the director? – Wong Kar-Wai
When did it come out? – 2013
What is the story about? – Based on the life story of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man
What was its reception? – Praised for its philosophical depth, historical perspective, and influence
on Kung-Fu genre
How much did it gross? - $64 million worldwide
How many versions of the film are there? – 3
What were some of Wong Kar-Wai’s signatures? – Slow motion, slow shutter speed, explorations of
nostalgia, aesthetic drives the narrative, colourful and saturated, familial conflict, expressionistic
style, lowkey/chiaroscuro lighting, reflections, unconventional narrative
What are conventions of the themes of martial arts genre? – Honour, discipline and respect,
revenge or redemption, mentorship and legacy, good vs evil, personal growth, cultural identity
What are conventions of the characters of martial arts genre? – The stoic hero, the master/mentor,
the villain (often a fallen student or corrupt master), the traitor, the female fighter, the comic relief
sidekick
What are conventions of the visual elements of martial arts genre? – Choreographed fight
sequences, traditional clothing, training montages, use of weapons, slow motion to dramatize
impact, wide-angle shots to showcase full-body movement, close-ups of facial expressions
What are conventions of the settings of martial arts genre? – Dojo/temple, rural landscapes,
courtyards
What are conventions of the narrative of martial arts genre? – Revenge arcs, tournament
structure, honour vs corruption, oath or vow, challenge -> training -> defeat -> return stronger ->
final victory
How does TGM link to the themes of the genre? – Honour is central to Ip’s character, Gong Er’s arc
is a revenge narrative after her father’s death, it’s about passing down styles, schools, and
philosophies, deeply rooted in Chinese history, values, and tradition
How does TGM link to the characters of the genre? – Ip is humble and composed, Gong Yutian is a
symbolic figure of the old world, Ma San betrays his master and legacy for personal gain
How does TGM link to the visual elements of the genre? – Choreographed fight scenes (elegant –
less about violence and more about art), traditional costumes, use of traditional weapons, slow-
motion and wide shots (Kar-Wai uses stylised slow motion but with a poetic, rather than
adrenaline-driven, tone)
How does TGM link to the settings of the genre? – Dojo/temple, rural settings (snowy train station
represents tradition vs change), courtyards
How does TGM link to the narrative of the genre? – Gong Er’s story is a classic revenge arc – but
ends in tragedy and emotional emptiness, Ma San represents dishonour. Ip Man and Gong Er cling
to their moral codes
How does TGM subvert the themes of the genre? – More morally complex – no clear ‘evil villain’
beyond human weakness and betrayal
How does TGM subvert the characters of the genre? – Ma San is dishonourable, but more of a
tragic traitor than a classic villain, comic relief is absent
How does TGM subvert the visual elements of the genre? – training sequences are minimal. Focus
is more on philosophy than montage-style physical training
How does TGM subvert the narrative of the genre? - no final victory – Gong Er dies unfulfilled, and
Ip Man’s glory fades into quiet memory, there is no hero’s triumph
Todorov’s theory? – Ip lives peacefully, the war and fall of martial arts, Ip adapts to new life, trains
new students, ends with a subdued legacy
Propp’s theory? – Ip = hero, Gong Er = princess, Ma San = villain, Ip Man’s old masters = donors,
Gong Yutian = dispatcher
Levi-Strauss’s theory? – Tradition vs modernity, honour vs betrayal, male vs female, northern vs
southern martial arts, peace vs violence
Neale’s theory? – Repetition in martial arts tropes, historical figures, honour codes. Differences in
emphasis on melancholy, philosophy, and visual poetry over action spectacle
Bazin’s theory? – Signatures of slow motion, voiceovers, non-linear timelines, emphasis on
emotion over plot
Tasker’s theory? – Gong Er is a powerful martial artist, but her character arc ends in self-sacrifice
Mulvey’s theory? - Gong Er is framed through Ip’s admiration and nostalgia. She is idealised and
distanced
Altman’s semantic approach? – Kung fu fights, traditional Chinese settings, martial arts costumes
Altman’s syntactic approach? – Themes of legacy, honour, revenge, and discipline
Who was the director? – Wong Kar-Wai
When did it come out? – 2013
What is the story about? – Based on the life story of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man
What was its reception? – Praised for its philosophical depth, historical perspective, and influence
on Kung-Fu genre
How much did it gross? - $64 million worldwide
How many versions of the film are there? – 3
What were some of Wong Kar-Wai’s signatures? – Slow motion, slow shutter speed, explorations of
nostalgia, aesthetic drives the narrative, colourful and saturated, familial conflict, expressionistic
style, lowkey/chiaroscuro lighting, reflections, unconventional narrative
What are conventions of the themes of martial arts genre? – Honour, discipline and respect,
revenge or redemption, mentorship and legacy, good vs evil, personal growth, cultural identity
What are conventions of the characters of martial arts genre? – The stoic hero, the master/mentor,
the villain (often a fallen student or corrupt master), the traitor, the female fighter, the comic relief
sidekick
What are conventions of the visual elements of martial arts genre? – Choreographed fight
sequences, traditional clothing, training montages, use of weapons, slow motion to dramatize
impact, wide-angle shots to showcase full-body movement, close-ups of facial expressions
What are conventions of the settings of martial arts genre? – Dojo/temple, rural landscapes,
courtyards
What are conventions of the narrative of martial arts genre? – Revenge arcs, tournament
structure, honour vs corruption, oath or vow, challenge -> training -> defeat -> return stronger ->
final victory
How does TGM link to the themes of the genre? – Honour is central to Ip’s character, Gong Er’s arc
is a revenge narrative after her father’s death, it’s about passing down styles, schools, and
philosophies, deeply rooted in Chinese history, values, and tradition
How does TGM link to the characters of the genre? – Ip is humble and composed, Gong Yutian is a
symbolic figure of the old world, Ma San betrays his master and legacy for personal gain
How does TGM link to the visual elements of the genre? – Choreographed fight scenes (elegant –
less about violence and more about art), traditional costumes, use of traditional weapons, slow-
motion and wide shots (Kar-Wai uses stylised slow motion but with a poetic, rather than
adrenaline-driven, tone)
How does TGM link to the settings of the genre? – Dojo/temple, rural settings (snowy train station
represents tradition vs change), courtyards
How does TGM link to the narrative of the genre? – Gong Er’s story is a classic revenge arc – but
ends in tragedy and emotional emptiness, Ma San represents dishonour. Ip Man and Gong Er cling
to their moral codes
How does TGM subvert the themes of the genre? – More morally complex – no clear ‘evil villain’
beyond human weakness and betrayal
How does TGM subvert the characters of the genre? – Ma San is dishonourable, but more of a
tragic traitor than a classic villain, comic relief is absent
How does TGM subvert the visual elements of the genre? – training sequences are minimal. Focus
is more on philosophy than montage-style physical training
How does TGM subvert the narrative of the genre? - no final victory – Gong Er dies unfulfilled, and
Ip Man’s glory fades into quiet memory, there is no hero’s triumph
Todorov’s theory? – Ip lives peacefully, the war and fall of martial arts, Ip adapts to new life, trains
new students, ends with a subdued legacy
Propp’s theory? – Ip = hero, Gong Er = princess, Ma San = villain, Ip Man’s old masters = donors,
Gong Yutian = dispatcher
Levi-Strauss’s theory? – Tradition vs modernity, honour vs betrayal, male vs female, northern vs
southern martial arts, peace vs violence
Neale’s theory? – Repetition in martial arts tropes, historical figures, honour codes. Differences in
emphasis on melancholy, philosophy, and visual poetry over action spectacle
Bazin’s theory? – Signatures of slow motion, voiceovers, non-linear timelines, emphasis on
emotion over plot
Tasker’s theory? – Gong Er is a powerful martial artist, but her character arc ends in self-sacrifice
Mulvey’s theory? - Gong Er is framed through Ip’s admiration and nostalgia. She is idealised and
distanced
Altman’s semantic approach? – Kung fu fights, traditional Chinese settings, martial arts costumes
Altman’s syntactic approach? – Themes of legacy, honour, revenge, and discipline
